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Assorted Minor League News

The Jackson Generals, the last Mariners affiliate standing, faces elimination tonight against the Mobile BayBears in the Southern League championship. Taijuan Walker struck out 9 yesterday in just 5-1/3 innings, giving up no runs and (even better) no walks, although he did leave after 80 pitches with what were reportedly blister issues. It might well have been his last inning anyway, but unfortunately the bullpen couldn’t hold the lead for him, and then Matt Davidson hit a 2-run homer off Jonathan Arias in the 10th.

Mike Zunino, now Baseball America’s short-season leagues Player of the Year, had two hits in the game. Others recognized by BA include Carter Capps as the reliever on their Minor League All-Star team, with Stefen Romero as a second-teamer at 2B. Classification all-stars in the system include Capps at AA, Zunino and Patrick Kivlehan for Everett, and Tyler Pike (the guy they got for not signing Kevin Cron) from the AZL squad for the rookie leagues.

Also announced by the Mariners is that they have extended their agreements with the rest of their affiliates so all of them will be sticking around through at least 2014. It would be great if they could get away from the distortions of High Desert, but I don’t know that there were any better options, only Lancaster which is just as bad if not worse.

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Comments

9 Responses to “Assorted Minor League News”

stevemotivateir on
September 14th, 2012 10:45 am

Thanks for the updates, Mike. I wonder if USSM is going to have to create a special section just for Zunino-related posts?!

Rainiers_fan on
September 14th, 2012 11:09 am

Thanks for the update Mike. I miss Jay’s minor league posts so any news is appreciated. Sounds like a good idea Steve!

maqman on
September 14th, 2012 11:16 am

I’ll add my thanks too Mike, the minors are the future and our’s is looking better. Zunino is looking more and more real.

SonOfZavaras on
September 14th, 2012 12:44 pm

And I’d like to add my own thanks, Mike. I, too, am seriously going to miss Jay Yencich’s reports…but any news is appreciated.

I’ve been a Mariners fan for 25+ years, and I just can’t remember a time when the farm and who it had in it was this exciting and deep.

I almost wish Zunino would have just a tiny little bit of struggle in either the Fall League or Tacoma next season, just so he can get reminded of just how not easy this game is to play professionally…and get those “really young player struggles” out of the way.

Westside guy on
September 14th, 2012 1:13 pm

You talking about struggles like Mike Trout had, SOZ? 😉

Celadus on
September 14th, 2012 2:13 pm

The Mariners have been drafting intelligently the past few years. Given that none of the prospects so far has been an unambiguous success, it would be nice if Zunino turned out to be a no-brainer, all-star type. The organization deserves a big payoff once in a while as a reward for their diligence.

The_Waco_Kid on
September 14th, 2012 2:22 pm

If I were Jack Z, I would not have the willpower to keep Zunino in AAA next year, although it’ll probably be wise to give him time down there.

Rainiers_fan on
September 14th, 2012 5:41 pm

I too hope the Mariners exercise some restraint with Zunino. Trout came up really quick no doubt, and without the benefit of college play. Still even he, after being minor leage player of the year in 2011, checked into AAA for 20 games this season before being promoted to the majors for good. (That makes what he has done this year despite missing time playing in the minors even more amazing)

Granted that Zunino is a former college player so it’s somewhat apples and oranges, but I hope the Mariners don’t rush him. That will be a difficult temptation to resist if he is crushing the ball next year in spring training.

I would like to see him start in AAA in 2013 and moveup after showing some success. If he continues to look as good as he looks now that might not take long at all.

Again part of that might be my selfish wish to see him play a few games in Tacoma.

stevemotivateir on
September 15th, 2012 9:16 am

^I’d agree with that, more so to work on fine-tuning the catching, than work with the bat. I’m sure there’s things he can work on with his hitting as well, I just don’t know what those things might be 😛